In the Himalayan region of India, communities and environmentalists are concerned that the mountains’ massive infrastructure push is making them more vulnerable to natural disasters. They say that in one of the world’s most fragile regions, the effects of massive construction projects like roads and dams are being exacerbated by climate change.
Rising tourism brings economic prosperity to many in the region of India’s scenic Himalayan slopes. But it has also brought hazards, with mountains of solid trash littered across the hillsides. Scores of volunteers have organised cleanup campaigns as a result of that.
In an Indian Himalayan town where authorities say the land is sinking, hundreds of people have been evacuated from their homes. According to experts, the crisis highlights the dangers of unsustainable growth in a vulnerable mountain region
Recent strong monsoon rains in North India caused landslides and flooding that killed 40 people. At a time when climate change is also posing challenges, experts and local environmental activists attribute such disasters to excessive development along fragile mountain slopes
Experienced guides like Sherpa who take climbers all the way to the top of Everest make $10,000 or more, while porters or cooks at mountaineers’ camps average between $3,000 and $5,000 during their three months of work. That’s a huge amount compared to Nepal’s $1,035 annual per capita income